Diabetes and Heart Disease
Diabetes can damage the large blood vessels that surround the heart and carry blood to all parts of the
body. The damaged areas of the blood vessels tend to trap cholesterol from the blood.
In time, the vessels become blacked and the heart has to work much harder to pump the
blood through the clogged vessels. This can lead to a heart attack, stroke, high
blood pressure or poor circulation to the body. Heart and blood vessel damage
happens three times more often and at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
Prevention is the Key
To prevent or treat heart disease it is important to:
- Control blood sugar levels-Normal fasting glucose levels for a non-diabetic should
be less than 100 mg/dl.
- Stop smoking
- Eat low-fat foods, exercise
- Control the blood pressure
- Maintain a good weight
Keeping your blood sugar near target
You can help to delay or prevent these long-term problems by keeping your
blood sugar close to your target range. You can keep track of your blood
sugar levels in two ways:
- You can check your own blood sugar regularly with a blood sugar meter.
Many people check their blood sugar several times a day both before and
after meals. Write down your blood sugar numbers. Look for patterns or
changes and talk to your health care team.
- You can ask your health care provider to check your A1c levels at least
twice a year. It's a blood sugar check "with a memory." It tells you your
average blood sugar for the past two to three months. If your number is eight
of higher, you may need a change in your diabetes treatment plan.
In short, control your ABC's:
- A1C - should be less than 7 percent
- Blood Pressure - should be less than 120/80 mmHg; check at each doctor's visit.
- Cholesterol Levels (LDL)- should be less than 100 mg/dL; check at least once a year.
For more information, be sure to visit:
American Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - www.cdc.gov/diabetes
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates
on diabetes in the United States, 2005. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, National Institute of Health, 2005.
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